Home #LawinPH SPECIAL REPORT: Cagayan schools suffer as P597-M damages yet to be rehabilitated

SPECIAL REPORT: Cagayan schools suffer as P597-M damages yet to be rehabilitated

CAGAYAN, Philippines- One year after Super Typhoon Lawin struck the province of Cagayan, some schools are still suffering from the wrath left by the typhoon dubbed as the strongest to hit the province in recent years.

Laizel Dangatan, a college instructor of Cagayan State University-Piat Campus, shared their college’s struggle as their education building was destroyed by Lawin.

Their college’s building is still standing, but the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH) advised the school administration to no longer use it as it is already dangerous.

“We experience a difficulty in holding our classes. This is because we really lack classrooms. Though we use alternative rooms, it is still not enough to suffice our needs,” Dangatan said, stating that they only “borrow” classrooms from other college departments.

Dangatan added that some classrooms also leak whenever it rains, making it “more difficult for us.”

She said they are also having difficulty in holding school activities as the school gymnasium was totally wrecked during the onslaught of the super typhoon.

‘No released funds yet’

Data obtained from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Cagayan Valley showed Dangatan’s school, CSU-Piat campus, had incurred the most damages among state universities and colleges (SUCs) and even the private universities in the region.

CSU-Piat reported P54, 570, 000 damages. It was followed by CSU-Carig campus with P44, 157, 410.

OCD Cagayan Valley regional information officer Francis Joseph Reyes told The Northern Forum that the request for rehabilitation fund for two schools have already been requested to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC).

If approved, the schools will receive P82, 761, 167.66 fund.

Earlier, Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba said the provincial government is still following up the funds for the repair of school buildings destroyed by super typhoon.

In the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council meeting, Governor Mamba said the National Disaster Coordinating Council “has not yet given any of the funds at this time, except for [constructing] temporary school buildings.”

The total cost of damaged classrooms of Department of Education (DepEd) in Cagayan is pegged at P408, 770, 000 million for the 1, 282 damaged classrooms.

About P189 million damages in classrooms of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in Cagayan was also recorded.

Rappler on Monday, October 16, requested for an interview to DepEd regional director Estela Cariño but has yet to receive response.

Meanwhile, Mamba also said that Cagayan has “not fully recovered” as the provincial government is still gradually giving galvanized iron sheets to affected families.

He also noted that emergency shelter assistance has also yet to be fully given.

More than 14,000 damaged houses were each entitled P30,000. Mamba said only P5,000 of the assistance have been given while the remaining P25,000 is still ongoing. Northernforum.net

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